This list includes 20 Martial arts that start with B, ranging from “Backhold wrestling” to “Burmese boxing”. They include folk wrestling styles, classical striking systems, and modern hybrid sports. Many are practiced for sport, self-defense, fitness, and cultural performance.

Martial arts that start with B are styles and folk systems whose common link is a name beginning with B. Many reflect regional history, for example Burmese boxing’s ties to Myanmar’s festival traditions.

Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Focus, Founding period, and Notes.

Name: The commonly used name of the martial art and its usual spelling, so you can identify it quickly.

Origin: Country or region where the style developed, helping you place each art geographically and culturally.

Focus: Primary emphasis (Striking, Grappling, Hybrid) so you know what skills the art prioritizes and typical training outcomes.

Founding period: Approximate year, decade, or century when the art emerged, giving historical context for you and its modern development timeline.

Notes: Brief remarks on distinctive techniques, competition status, or naming issues to aid your selection or research.

Martial arts that start with B

NameCountry of originPrimary focusFounding period
BoxingEnglandStriking18th century
Bare-knuckle boxingEnglandStriking18th century
Brazilian Jiu-JitsuBrazilGrappling1920s–1930s
BaguazhangChinaHybrid19th century
BajiquanChinaStriking18th–19th century
BandoMyanmarHybridEarly 20th century
BokatorCambodiaStrikingAncient (pre-10th century)
BanshayMyanmarStrikingAncient (pre-10th century)
Balintawak EskrimaPhilippinesStriking1950s
BartitsuUnited KingdomHybrid1890s
BataireachtIrelandStriking18th century
BajutsuJapanHybridMedieval (12th–17th century)
BujutsuJapanHybridMedieval (12th–17th century)
BudoJapanHybrid20th century
BujinkanJapanHybrid1970s
Boxe FrançaiseFranceStriking19th century
Burmese boxingMyanmarStrikingAncient (pre-10th century)
BojutsuJapanStrikingMedieval (12th–17th century)
Bak MeiChinaStriking19th century
Backhold wrestlingUnited KingdomGrapplingMedieval

Descriptions

Boxing
Modern Western punching sport with footwork, defense and ring rules, codified in England; central to combat sports and self-defense.
Bare-knuckle boxing
Historic form of boxing conducted without gloves, featuring straight punches and clinch work; foundational to modern pugilism.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Ground-focused grappling art from Brazil prioritizing positional control and submissions; adapted from judo and key to modern MMA and self-defense.
Baguazhang
Internal Chinese art known for circular footwork, palm strikes, throws and evasive movement; valued for mobility and fluid techniques.
Bajiquan
Explosive, close-range Chinese boxing emphasizing elbow, shoulder and short-range strikes; historically used by bodyguards and infantry support.
Bando
Burmese system combining strikes, locks, throws and weapons; systematized in the 20th century for self-defense and cultural preservation.
Bokator
One of Cambodia’s oldest arts with animal-inspired strikes, locks and weapon work, revived as a national cultural martial tradition.
Banshay
Traditional Burmese weapons art focused on sword and bladed techniques, drills and battlefield forms with ceremonial aspects.
Balintawak Eskrima
Filipino stick-fighting style from Cebu emphasizing single-stick drills, close-range counters and practical street-oriented defense.
Bartitsu
Victorian self-defense system combining boxing, cane and stick work, jujitsu and savate; an early deliberate mixed-style approach.
Bataireacht
Irish stick-fighting tradition using the shillelagh; folk martial practice emphasizing strikes, parries and cultural ritual contexts.
Bajutsu
Samurai-era mounted combat art for fighting on horseback, including lance, sword and mounted tactics applied on the battlefield.
Bujutsu
Umbrella term for classical samurai combative techniques—weaponry, grappling and battlefield skills developed across feudal Japan.
Budo
Modern Japanese concept of martial “ways” focusing on technical practice, character and spirituality; umbrella for arts like judo and kendo.
Bujinkan
Organization teaching ninjutsu-derived taijutsu, weapon arts and classical Japanese schools, founded by Masaaki Hatsumi with a practical combatives focus.
Boxe Française
Also called Savate, French boxing combining kicks and punches with agile footwork, formal rules and sport competition.
Burmese boxing
Traditional striking art from Myanmar (often referenced alongside lethwei), known for headbutts, clinch work and aggressive striking.
Bojutsu
Classical Japanese staff fighting art teaching long- and short-staff strikes, thrusts, guards and kata-based training.
Bak Mei
Southern Chinese “White Eyebrow” kung fu style noted for short-range, explosive hand techniques, close-in power and counterstriking.
Backhold wrestling
Traditional folk wrestling from Scotland and Northern England where opponents lock around the back and contest balance and throws.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.